When Taxi Vouchers Make More Sense Than Fixing Mass Transit

Tough times call for creative solutions, and times are certainly tough for urban mass transit. Public transportation agencies are cutting service or raising fares, or both, on systems across the country. With funding tight, some local leaders are thinking differently about how to help residents who rely on mass transit. Last week the mayor of Colorado Springs challenged his city to consider novel responses to the problem. He even got them started with a few ideas of his own, including providing people with vouchers for cab fare:

The use of cab vouchers does seem to be catching on in places. A taxi voucher program in Southern California's Coachella Valley, aimed at seniors and the disabled, was expected to go into effect this week. Phoenix launched a similar program this summer, and New Haven did the same last fall. These programs and others like them [PDF] — which typically cover up to half the cost of a ride — have been aided by grants through the Federal Transit Administration's New Freedom initiative.